Buyers Guide: Pet Treat Cams

Five fun ways to stay connected with your pets when you’re away from home.

Pet tech gadgets are growing in popularity because they enable owners to stay connected to their pets 24/7 from literally anywhere in the world via smartphone and tablet apps. And, understandably, the one tech gadget that is most popular with pets themselves are treat dispensing machines which pop out treats and keep both cats and dogs actively engaged when they are home alone. If you want to spoil your pet and ease your guilt about leaving them home alone all day, here are five indispensable remote treat dispensers.

Billed as a complete sensory experience for pets, this wall-mounted device features a two-way videophone, HD video camera, sound and motion detector, treat dispenser and aromatherapy scent release; it can also stream DogTV for your pet’s entertainment. The optional PawCall is a paw-shaped button that you can train you pet to tap whenever she wants to “talk” to you. You can also use it to schedule set interaction times throughout the day; the blinking button lets your pet know it’s time to play. PetChatz HD retails for $349.99; the optional PawCall is $90.99.

This camera and a treat dispenser combo enables you to see, talk, play and reward your pets from practically anywhere (as long as your phone or tablet has an internet connection). The unit’s treat dispenser holds up to 2 pounds of treats—about 100 tasty edibles. It also has the capacity to fling out treats at different distances; up to 6-feet away. With the device’s interactive HD video capabilities, you can reach out to your pet at any time and post both photographs and video to your favorite social media channels. Petcube Bites also works with Amazon’s personal assistant Alexa and when you are running low on treats, you can reorder through Amazon’s Dash Replenishment Service (DRS).The unit retails for $229.

The Pawbo+ features HD video and a wide-angle camera, and two-way audio so you can talk to and hear your pets while you reward them from the built-in treat dispenser. The unit also features multiple ringtones to help you train your pets to respond. A built-in laser, operated via the app, will entice your pets to play and can be set to initiate games automatically. In addition, the unit can remotely control an optional interactive cat teaser toy. The manufacturer promises more games to come. The HD unit retails for $199.99; with the optional teaser toy, $229.00.

This Wi-Fi connected treat dispenser is ideal for any brand of small treats. However, hard treats launch better out of the treat slot than softer varieties. Petzi’s audio feature enables you to call your pet over for tasty treats; its wide-angled camera with night vision allows you to watch and snap some fun pictures as he leaps for the treats. Note:Having recently been acquired by Wagz, the Petzi treat cam is currently being integrated with its new owner’s product lineup and will be available from its website on August 31, 2018 for $169.99.

This clever gadget is able to detect when your pet is facing it and take selfies—video or pictures—with its built-in, wide-angle HD camera. It also features two-way audio with noise and echo suppression for better sound quality. The Furbo can also send you “barking alerts” to give you a heads up that something might be bothering your dog at home. The unit’s main feature is, of course, its ability to provide treats to your pet remotely. It holds more than 100 of your pet’s favorite small-size rounded treats, and retails for $199.